{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-proceedings-rules-northern-ireland-1996/rule-4.1",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-proceedings-rules-northern-ireland-1996/rule-4.1.json",
  "legislation": "nisr/1996/322",
  "legislation_title": "The Family Proceedings Rules (Northern Ireland) 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/family-proceedings-rules-northern-ireland-1996",
  "path": "rule/4.1",
  "kind": "rule",
  "number": "4.1",
  "heading": "Interpretation and application",
  "text": "(1) In this Part of and Appendix 3 to these Rules, unless a contrary intention appears—\n“the Allocation Order” means the Children (Allocation of Proceedings) Order (Northern Ireland) 1996;\nan Article or Schedule referred to by number means the Article or Schedule so numbered in the Order of 1995;\n“an Article 8 Order” has the same meaning as in Article 8(2);\n“application”’ means an application made under or by virtue of the Order of 1995 or under these Rules and “applicant” shall be construed accordingly;\n“authority” has the same meaning as in Article 2(2);\n“child”, in relation to proceedings to which this Part applies—\n(a) means, subject to sub-paragraph (b), a person under the age of 18 with respect to whom the proceedings are brought, and\n(b) where the proceedings are under Schedule 1, also includes a person who has reached the age of 18;\n“directions appointment” means a hearing for directions under rule 4.15;\n“family care centre” means a county court which has been specified as a family care centre in the Allocation Order;\n“guardian ad litem” means a guardian ad litem, appointed under Article 60, of the child with respect to whom the proceedings are brought;\n“leave” includes permission and approval;\n“parental responsibility” has the same meaning as in Article 6;\n“Parties” means the respondents specified in column (iii) of Appendix 3 and the applicant;\n“specified proceedings” has the same meaning as in Article 60(6) and Rule 4.3(2);\n“welfare officer” means a person who has been asked to prepare a welfare report under Article 4.\n(2) Except where the contrary intention appears, the provisions of this Part apply to proceedings in the High Court and a county court—\n(a) on an application for an Article 8 order;\n(b) on an application for a care order or supervision order under Article 50;\n(c) on an application under Articles 7(1)(a), 7(4), 13(1), 16(6), 33.44, 52(7), 53(2), 53(3), 53(4), 53(9), 55(1), 57(8)(b), 58(1), 58(2), 58(3), 58(4), 62(1), 2(12), 63, 64, 67(9), 69(1), 159(1), 163(1), 178(1);\n(d) under Schedule 1, except, where financial relief is also sought by or on behalf of an adult;\n(e) on an application under paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 3;\n(f) on an application under paragraph 5(2) or 7(1) of Schedule 4; or\n(g) on an application under paragraph 10(3) or 12(4) of Schedule 8.",
  "extent": "N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "S.R. 1996 No. 300"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1996/322/rule/4.1",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T02:34:45.513001+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}